New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme retires from international cricket
New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday. He took the decision, considering his perpetual "injuries". Colin represented New Zealand in 29 Tests, 45 ODIs, and 41 T20Is. He was a part of the NZ side that won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship. Adelaide Strikers recently picked him in the Big Bash League (BBL) overseas players' draft.
Fortunate enough to play for NZ: De Grandhomme
"I accept I'm not getting any younger and that the training is getting harder, particularly with the injuries," de Grandhomme said in a release by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). "I also have a growing family and am trying to understand what my future looks like post-cricket. I've been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to play for the Black Caps."
A look at his international career
De Grandhomme made his international debut in 2012, playing a T20I against Zimbabwe. He earned his maiden international cap a decade after making his First-Class debut. A hard-hitter, who also surprised batters with his seam-up deliveries, de Grandhomme took a total of 91 wickets across formats. He scored 1,432, 742, and 505 runs in Test, ODI, and T20I cricket, respectively.
De Grandhomme started his cricketing career in Zimbabwe
De Grandhomme was born in Harare in 1986. He made his First-Class and List A debuts in Zimbabwe. Interestingly, the all-rounder also represented Zimbabwe in the 2003/04 Under-19 World Cup. De Grandhomme left for Auckland in 2006 before playing for the Black Caps.
De Grandhomme played WTC and WC finals
De Grandhomme was an integral member of the New Zealand side that defeated India in the 2021 World Test Championship final in Southampton. New Zealand also had his services in the 2019 World Cup final where the Black Caps missed the title by a whisker. De Grandhomme registered brilliant figures of 1/25 in 10 overs in the final against England.
De Grandhomme set to play for Adelaide Strikers
De Grandhomme will continue to play domestic cricket in New Zealand. It is understood that he would be discussing the terms with Northern Districts. It was also reported that Adelaide Strikers has drafted de Grandhomme for the upcoming BBL season. However, his central contract with NZC emerged as a hurdle. Notably, NZC has now released de Grandhomme from his contract.
Trent Boult took a similar route
Like De Grandhomme, his compatriot Trent Boult took a similar route earlier this month. The NZ cricket board agreed to release the left-arm seamer from the central contract list after he requested the same. Boult admitted that he wants to spend more time with his family and play domestic leagues around the world. Notably, he has over 500 international wickets for NZ.
